Spanning 96.5 miles, this journey from Manahawkin to Paterson typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. You will primarily navigate via West Bay Avenue, NJ 72 West, and the Garden State Parkway North. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trek. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of New Jersey, the transit is straightforward and localized. It is a practical route for those looking to move efficiently between the coast and the northern part of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Manahawkin, NJ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Garden State Parkway
90.9 mi
1h 53m
NJ 19
1.7 mi
1m
NJ 72
1.1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
GSP Northbound entrance ramp
0.2 mi
<1m
Grand Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Bay Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Market Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Garden State Parkway
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manahawkin, NJ and Paterson, NJ.
1
Start on (50)
46 ft·3 sec·East Bay Avenue
2
Continue on West Bay Avenue
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Bay Avenue
3
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·19 sec·this road
Toward NJ 72 West
4
Merge onto NJ 72
1.1 mi·1 min·NJ 72
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward GSP Toll NorthUse the right lane.
6
Continue on GSP Northbound entrance ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec·GSP Northbound entrance ramp
Toward GSP North
7
Merge onto GSP
39 mi·46 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·31 sec
9
Continue on GSP
52 mi·1 hr 7 min·Garden State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 155AToward NJ 19: PatersonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto NJ 19
1.7 mi·1 min·NJ 19
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
313 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 West: Grand Street, Del Water Gap
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward Grand StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto CR 638
0.2 mi·27 sec·Grand Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto CR 509
0.3 mi·29 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto CR 648
453 ft·15 sec·Market Street
17
Turn left onto Colt Street
42 ft·3 sec·Colt Street
18
Arrive at destination
Colt Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 41 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Since there are no designated stops included in this 96.5-mile itinerary, you can easily pull over at your own convenience if you need a break. It is wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the Garden State Parkway to ensure you stay within your $16 estimated budget. One concrete tip for this specific path: prioritize monitoring your GPS closely during the initial segment on West Bay Avenue and NJ 72 West, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention to the signs.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.1 miles from Manahawkin, NJ, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paterson, NJ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manahawkin, NJ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manahawkin, NJ
This is one driving day of about 96.3 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Manahawkin, NJ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Garden State Parkway for about 90.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 95.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward GSP Toll North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward GSP Toll North
7
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward NJ 19: Paterson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward NJ 19: Paterson
8
95.6 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight right at fork toward Grand Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Grand Street
7
95.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|CR 638 / Grand Street
Turn right onto CR 638 / Grand Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
95.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|CR 509 / Main Street
Turn left onto CR 509 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.97 one way
$31.93 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.49
$34.97
premium
$4.93
$18.68
$37.35
diesel
$5.61
$21.26
$42.52
Estimated Tolls: $5.45
Garden State Parkway
(90.9 mi)$5.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
EV Truck/SUV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Manahawkin, NJ
Late night
in Manahawkin on Sunday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paterson, NJ
Late night
in Paterson on Sunday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this path requires frequent navigation through varied roadway types as you transition from local streets to the Garden State Parkway. While the route is not strictly defined by a high highway percentage, the mix of local roads and major thoroughfares keeps the pace dynamic. You will find that the character of the drive shifts as you progress away from Manahawkin and head toward the more densely populated northern territory. Be prepared for a driving experience that values maneuverability over long, uninterrupted stretches of open road.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on Garden State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Garden State Parkway and NJ 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 96.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 96.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Garden State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.45 in tolls one way, starting with Garden State Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paterson, NJ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paterson, NJ before heading back.
